March 17, 2011

Box Score

CLERMONT, FL - The University of Massachusetts softball team rallied for three seventh inning runs, all with two outs, to win in walk-off fashion over SUNY Geneseo, 3-2, Thursday morning at the NTC Athletic Complex in Clermont, FL. The Beacons improve to 4-3 with the win while the loss drops Geneseo to 3-4 overall.

After trailing 2-0 for the entire game, UMass Boston rallied with two outs in the seventh as senior centerfielder Christina Polsonetti (Revere, MA) belted the Beacons first extra base hit with a double to the left field fence. She'd plate the first UMB run when junior pitcher Katie Corey (Weymouth, MA) helped her own cause with an RBI single to make it a 2-1 game. A walk by freshman left fielder Toni Scola (Worcester, MA) put the tying run in Corey in scoring position before sophomore second baseman Kasey O'Connell (Quincy, MA) laced a groundball to third base, causing Geneseo sophomore third baseman Jessica Steubing (Fairport, NY) to rush the throw to first. The low throw scooted past the base, allowing Corey to score from second to tie the game at 2-2 while Scola advanced to third, representing the game-winning run. Following a walk by sophomore shortstop Taryn Asta (Marshfield, MA) to load the bases, sophomore catcher Sue Killilea (Abington, MA) was able to draw a four pitch walk, forcing in the winning run to give UMass Boston the 3-2, come-from-behind walk-off victory.

In the bottom of the first, the Blue Knights capitalized on two UMass Boston errors, scoring two unearned runs to jump out to the early 2-0 lead. Freshman catcher Samantha Trapasso (Garden City, NY) scored the second Geneseo run after reaching base earlier in the frame on a single to left field that knocked in the first run of the game.

The Blue Knights were threatening again in the fourth but the Beacons were able to escape the jam unharmed. With runners at the corners and only one out, Killilea threw a strike to second on an attempted steal by freshman right fielder Patricia Callahan (Franklin Square, NY) that caught her in a pickle and resulted in an out at first base before Corey ended the inning with a strikeout to preserve the 2-0 deficit while stranding a runner at third.

On the mound, Corey went the distance for UMass Boston allowing two runs (0 earned) on seven hits while striking out seven to improve to 2-2 on the year. Senior southpaw Janine Montera (Deer Park, NY) dominated the Beacons until the final frame but was the tough-luck loser allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out four.

Both teams are back in action later this afternoon as UMass Boston will take on Bethel (MN) at 1:30 p.m. in their final game in Florida while the Blue Knights play Western New England College at 11:30 a.m.